§ 47. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Prime Minister if he will now recommend the award of a General Service Medal to Service personnel, and a suitable medal for civilian aircrew, who took part in the Berlin air lift.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard) on 25th May, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWhy did the Prime Minister, when I put a supplementary question to him last week, tell me to put the Question down again, if he is going to keep to the same answer? Does he not agree that the Service and civilian aircrews, at great loss of life, extricated our own and Western European countries from a very grave situation, and why does he not recognise the services rendered in the same way as he has recognised the Yangtse incident?
§ The Prime MinisterI gathered that the hon. and gallant Member wanted to have something more said on this point. It was very fully explained at the time that campaign medals are not given except where there is a war.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Prime Minister consider issuing a special medal to people like the Lord President of the Council and the Minister of Transport, who are beginning under force of circumstances to tell the people of Britain the truth?